Christmas shopping

Today was our big day to get out there and shop for Christmas presents... if this seems last minute to you, let it be known that for our family, it's actually quite a bit ahead of time (last year we finished shopping on the 23rd).

Normally, we would put the girls into umbrella strollers and set off. They're surprisingly hardy on snowy and icy sidewalks. But it was unthinkable to take any kind of stroller out today on our sidewalks.



Luckily, we have two child carriers (read: backpacks). One heavy-duty one from MEC and another that Derek actually used to ride around in! So Maïa climbed into the big one (much to her delight - you have no idea how many times she has asked to ride in it!), and Solanne got strapped into the vintage model... and off we went.



And what shopping trip would be complete without a break for lunch at the restaurant? Maïa loves going to the restaurant; in fact, she plays "restaurant" in our bedroom. She brings all her food toys and dishes in there and has a little party. Sometimes she even invites her sister. So today it was a special treat for the kids not only to visit a culinary establishment but also to sit next to one another. I am happy to report that they were incredibly well behaved. They made us proud (as always, of course!).